Chief Superintendent Rob Griffin, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We are really grateful for the support of the community during the last amnesty in September.

"To take 418 knives out of circulation - many of them incredibly dangerous weapons - shows that the public is just as keen as we are to get them off the streets.

"We want the process of handing them in to be as simple as possible so there will be no paperwork to fill in. People can simply drop them in the bins and leave, and we will collect them all up at the end of the week and destroy them.

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"We don't really know who is handing them in because it is anonymous but we don't expect knife users to be dropping them off but if they are it is great news.

"It is relatives known to knife users, but there is no conclusive evidence of that, but it does not matter who is dropping them off - every knife that is deposited is one less to be used.

"We are getting on the front foot on driving down knife crime. We think those increases are slowing down. The solution lies in getting to the root cause and the root cause is people's attitude to carrying knives and using knives and that is what needs to change."

Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said: "Amnesties help but they are not a complete solution. Taking weapons off the streets is important but what is more important is changing people's behaviour. I think it is vital that parents know what their kids are doing."

Marcus McKenzie pictured has set up new tackling knife crime group in Nottingham. (Image: NOTTINGHAM POST)

Former gang member Marcus McKenzie, 36, of Lenton, used to carry a knife.

He was stabbed three times as a teenager during a confrontation in Mansfield Road.

He said: "Just putting one knife in the box you are saving someone's life. Knife crime is getting out of control. I was in a gang because I wanted to feel protected and I was carrying a knife because I had been done in so I felt I needed to."